A Rainy Night In Ferelden
The next two days were dreary and wet. Ah, Ferelden! Elle thought to herself. At least, it wasn't too cold. She was in better humor after Duncan had proclaimed her likely free from the taint the previous night. She looked over at Rance riding next to her. He was huddled in his drenched cloak with her gifted hood hanging in front of his face. "Still prefer the outside to the tower, Rance?" she asked with a sympathetic smile.
He laughed, even though anyone with eyes could see how utterly miserable the poor man was. "I will gladly proclaim my preference for freedom ... as soon as I can get some proper nasty weather clothing."
Anders nodded and said, "I agree. They don't worry about things like riding in the rain when they provide your clothing in the Circle." Anders had wisely just given up and allowed the rain to soak his hair. He did have a nice oiled cloak, however. When he noticed Elle looking at his cloak, he added, "I bought this on my last walkabout and stashed it beside that barn outside of Kinloch."
"We can see what the quartermaster has when we get to Ostagar, Rance. I have a bit of coin at the Warden's pavilion there. Or, maybe at Lothering, if it's not too expensive. Once you get kitted out this first time though, you'll need to be smart with your warden pay. We pay on par with the country's soldiers. We do have good warden cooks, however, and their food is freely provided to all wardens whenever you're near." Duncan stretched his back and then, pointed. "I haven't noticed any smoke coming from that farmhouse since we first spotted it and the fields seem untended. Perhaps we can retire there for the evening."
"Hmmm, I'm not familiar with the farm families this far south. I believe that may be one of Bann Ceorlic's farmholds." Elle sighed and mumbled, "One of our more useless nobles. Case in point … an unused farmhold. It looks to be a large one, too." She shrugged. "It will allow us to arrive at Lothering a bit fresher than if we press on tonight."
The main farmhouse and the smaller out buildings were indeed empty of people or much else; however, the large house was a solid roof over their heads. It was just a large room around a center firepit. A chimney hanging down over it provided more than enough ventilation for the smoke. A generous metal guard plate covered the hole in the roof, so no rain made it into the room. Several sets of bunkbeds covered one wall. No mattresses were on them, however. It was decided that bedrolls on the floor nearer to the firepit would be more comfortable for the evening. A large table with benches on either side ran along one other wall and several chests lined the walls between the bunks. No other furniture was left inside. Curious that no other storage shelves, work tables or cabinets were there ... and absolutely nothing that would make the home ... well ... a home.
A makeshift drying rack — made from tent poles without the tent part — was set up near to the warmth and everyone's drenched outer clothing was stretched across it.
A bit of hunting around garnered them some dry firewood inside a large barn. Rebel and the other horses would be dry and comfy. However, Elle's curiosity got the better of her as she spied several large crates in a back stall. After looking inside them, she said, "Huh, there are quite a few packages of horrible, dry, tasteless rations in these crates ... along with tents. They look like they were put here fairly recently. I wonder why Ceorlic would be storing things like that here."
"Maybe he has a family in mind for the farmhold and these are just to start things up?" Anders guessed.
She frowned. It just seemed odd ... bordering on suspicious ... but then, Elle had to admit that she usually leaned toward paranoia. "I suppose the tents could be for workers until the crops are planted. But, it's nearing harvest. Why put these things here now? The farmholder wouldn't be taking on extra workers during the winter months. However — giving Ceorlic the benefit of the doubt — perhaps they could use the time to find good workers and let them build homes for any family that come with them. But, why no seeds or equipment?" She huffed and waved her hand in the air to dismiss her concerns. Then, she turned and walked over to Rebel to make sure he had enough food for the night and that his blanket was secure. "Not my problem, is it, boy?"
Duncan had a look of consternation as he uncovered a large crate of arrows and crossbow bolts. "I doubt this would belong to a farmer. I'll put the warden banner outside of the barn to alert anyone thinking to bother our horses. That usually works to alert them that they would be treading on dangerous grounds."
"I know a warding spell that should stay active all night. We'll hear a very loud screeching sound if someone opens the door to the barn," Rance said.
Anders laughed. "'Very loud' is an understatement. Leorah taught everyone that spell at the Circle. I woke up the entire tower one evening just going into the storerooms to gather some parchment." He smiled at Duncan. "Totally on the up and up that time, too."
Once they went back inside the farmhouse, it started to rain heavily. "Thank the Maker, we got everything all settled before that storm arrived.!" Then, Elle gathered a mish-mosh of food bits from everyone's packs and made her infamous Whatever You Got Left Stew … pouring it over the rock-hard last remnants of Nan's garlic rolls to soften them up.
"This isn't bad." Duncan finally seemed to be relaxing. However, Elle could tell his mind was on Ostagar and his fondest wish was to get there as soon as possible.
Anders mmmm'd and nodded while Rance chuckled, "This is great! Why haven't you made it before now?"
"It's one of my rituals to get rid of the bits of edibles at the bottom of my pack whenever I near a town where I can buy more. We don't want good food to go to waste, after all!" Elle smashed the last of the rolls and mixed it with some meat bits from the night before, along with a bit of wine. "Nan's rolls will last a month, if need be." She winked. "As long as you have strong enough teeth to gnaw on them. At this point, they are wonderful flavoring and thickening in the stew when crumbled up, softened with a bit of wine or water and then, mixed in."
Midnight moofed as he continued to munch on his roll … waiting for everyone to put their bowls down for mabari pre-washing cleanup duty. It was a duty that Midnight took very seriously!
After dinner, Anders took out his vial of darkspawn blood and rolled it between his fingers. "So, I've been thinking, Duncan …"
Duncan only sighed and raised his eyebrows.
"… what would we be needing this for? Then, after the fight with the darkspawn … and your reaction to the only one of us not a Grey Warden ... or becoming one ... potentially getting affected … I started to develop a theory. Would you like to hear it?"
"You will learn all about it during your Joining." Duncan glanced toward Elle. It took a great deal of fortitude for Elle not to chime in ... but she'd been thinking about it as well.
Anders grinned. "Ah! A Grey Warden secret!" He pursed his lips at Elle. "Sorry, Elle, you gotta belong to the Club."
Duncan groaned. "I wish you hadn't challenged her," he said as he set down his bowl in front of Midnight.
Well, that was nothing if not an invitation to voice her opinion!
Elle laughed. "Let's see, shall we?" Her eyes glittered with mischief. "A few observations first: Duncan knew we were about to be attacked by darkspawn. In fact, he even knew how many and what kind, yes?"
"That's right." Rance sat up straighter.
"Also, when they attacked, all four of them went directly for Duncan." She held up her index finger while saying, "Therefore, something occurs to a recruit to make them able to sense the darkspawn and allow the darkspawn to sense them." She nodded toward Anders' vial. "Something they must have in common."
"I'd retch right now, but I've been having the same thoughts." Rance ate the last of the stew he wanted and gave a bit to Midnight.
Duncan sighed. "Lady Cousland, say one more word on that topic and I shall use the Right of Conscription on you." The look on his face assured her that he was, indeed, serious.
Alas, the invitation withdrawn.
It was extremely difficult, but Elle shut her mouth, crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall.
"Oooo, hit a nerve, Elle! Good job!" Anders didn't even blink when Duncan turned his gaze on him. "I'm already a recruit, so I shall continue the thought." He held up the vial again. "There must be something mixed in with this that we will have to … drink? bathe in? snort? rub on our smallclothes?" He narrowed his eyes at Duncan. "You told us that it only lengthened the time before you die … soooo … some potions use lyrium to delay a result." He tapped his lips as if in thought as he looked at a passive Duncan. "But, why do we need Grey Wardens?"
"Handy to have an alert system for darkspawn," Rance put forth.
"History, gentlemen." Elle was careful to drop the potion conversation, but she would not hold back on anything written down and available to anyone. "The First Blight lasted for centuries. Thedas' finest warriors and most powerful mages would kill the Archdemon, only to have it rise up again and again. At first, they likely thought it was consecutive Old Gods arising, but something — something lost to time — showed them that it was Dumat, over and over… until the Grey Wardens were born. The only confirmation was after a Grey Warden killed the Dumat Archdemon, the beast didn't rise again. Hence, one vital reason for the Grey Wardens must be to kill the Archdemon … In Death, Sacrifice." Elle's look softened. "Only a Grey Warden has killed every Archdemon since then."
Duncan sighed in defeat. "Yes, the best of the best at that time banded together, forsaking all worldly claims to do whatever it took to defeat the Archdemon. There was no other way for Thedas to survive." Duncan smiled at the group before him. "We are lucky to have you, Anders and Rance." He turned to Elle with just a tiny twinkle to his eye. "I shall be speaking to your father, Elle, as I do believe we need someone of your insight and intelligence in the Grey Wardens, as well."
"Thank you for the compliment, Duncan, but I would like to wait a while longer. Please. Don't force the issue. I will not shirk any duty to Ferelden, I assure you." She winked as she put her fist over her heart. "I swear your secret is safe with me, Duncan."
He stretched and yawned before he said, "I believe you. I warn you not to tempt me further, however." Then, he laughed. "You four decide on watches. I'm going to sleep."
"I dearly appreciate that you include my fearless Midnight as an equal to any of us." Elle skritched behind Midnight's ear.
"He deserves it." Rance stood. "I'll take first watch. It's easier to just put the wards on the door and shutters. I already put the Howler on the barn."
Elle frowned. "Duncan, can mabari become Grey Wardens?"
As Duncan rolled out his bedroll and lay down, he answered. "They do not have to go through any rituals, but the Ash Warriors use mabari all the time and they often fight darkspawn." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "The Royal kennel master is at Ostagar. There must be something that keeps the mabari up and going."
Elle hugged Midnight. "I shall speak with the kennel master as soon as we arrive, dear boy, and find out all I can … for I cannot bear to fight without you by my side."
Anders laughed. "I swear the dog rolled his eyes!"
Midnight barked, tongue lolling to the side and jumped up on Anders for giving away his secret!
After the group quieted, the night passed. The only sounds were snoring from the mages, the howling winds and beating rain and hail outside … and Duncan's thrashing in nightmare. Everyone awoke once to Duncan yelling, followed by sitting upright, grabbing a liquor flask from his pack and sitting a moment to calm his breathing.
"There is one more 'benefit' to being a Grey Warden. Our dreams are filled with horror." He took a deep breath and looked at everyone, awake and staring at him with concern. "During a Blight, the Archdemon can even invade our dreams. There is no doubt in my mind now that this is a Blight." He looked around and saw Elle standing at the door. "I'll take watch until dawn, Elle."
But, as luck would have it, before anyone could get back to sleep, the "Howler" alarm went off ... causing Duncan to run out soon followed by Elle, Rance and Anders, carrying a torch while readying a spell.
Duncan had a nervous elf by the upper arm.
"My lord! I swear I wasn't trying to steal! I just wanted to ... wanted to find a dry place for the night!" The elf was young and shaking. He had blonde hair and large eyes ... now open to their widest! His clothes were drenched, but sturdy ... certainly not shabby. He did have a couple of daggers sheathed at his waist. That was about all Elle could see in the torchlight.
A clap of thunder and streak of lightning managed to light things up more for a moment, but not enough time for questioning. "Let's go inside the house," Elle suggested. "We'll all be dry."
"I'll reset the Howler and be right behind you," Rance said. Anders stayed to hold the torch for Rance.
"But ...," the elf started. He must have thought better of whatever he was about to say and nodded.
Once inside, Elle could see that he looked a little familiar. "What's your name, young ser?"
"You're ... you're Elle!" he cried and dropped to his knees. "Thank the Maker!"
Rance and Anders stepped in at that moment and started laughing. "She knows everyone in Ferelden, I guess," Anders said.
Elle looked around at everyone looking at her. "I am Elle Cousland. Do I know you?" He took a deep breath, stood and brushed the damp hair from hanging in his eyes and Elle saw the resemblance. "You're kin to Marika Sonnar, if I'm not mistaken."She turned to Anders with a wink, "No, no, no ... not everyone."
"I'm her son, Marc, Elle," he replied. "We've been noticing Bann Ceorlic doing some suspicious things lately ... like having his guard bring crates and boxes out to the old Farinar farmhold here and stashing them in the barn. Farinar moved to the Free Marches a year ago. Mother sent me out here to find out what was in those crates." He looked around. "That was some alarm!"
"I told you!" Anders said with a laugh. "Here, have some water. Not much left of dinner but I have some jerky for you. You're soaked to the bone." He rummaged around in his backpack and pulled out a dry shirt. "Here, put this on and drape your shirt with the rest of our drying things."
"We're heading on to Lothering in the morning, Marc," Elle said as she fished out a dried grain and berry travel ration. "These were made by the cook at the Highever Castle and I've found them quite tasty." As if the Maker wished to emphasize the remark she was about to make, a very loud clap of thunder was followed by a heavy rainstorm. "You can't really go back tonight, so you can travel with us until we reach the secret trail around the town. No one will ever know you were here."
"Thank you! I told Mother I'd just stay here out of sight and head back in the morning, so she shouldn't worry," Marc said as he munched down on the ration Elle gave him. "The trail is a good idea. I came that way. What do you think we should do, Elle?"
"Just keep watch for now and send word to Loghain through your mother's contacts if anything concrete comes up. He's down in Ostagar at the moment," Elle replied and then smiled. "But, at this particular time, finish up the bar and get some sleep."
"You know about a secret trail around Lothering, Elle?" Rance asked, his own eyes widening.
"Of course," Elle explained. "I prefer to circle around to confuse anyone who's trying to figure out why I'm in town. A friend showed it to me a while ago."
"Are you a bard in disguise?" he asked.
That made Elle laugh. "Heavens, no! I just like to keep some people guessing," she said with a wink.
"You can rest on my bedroll, Marc," Duncan offered after shaking his head and chuckling. "I'll be on watch until dawn."
Everyone settled in to go to sleep, but Elle was restless. Duncan had just gone out to check the outside as the rain finally subsided for a few minutes and Elle followed.
"So, what do you think Ceorlic is up to?" Duncan asked as Elle and Midnight caught up to him.
"Nothing good, I'm sure." Elle sighed. They walked side-by-side, but both were trained to be very aware of their surroundings. "There's not quite enough in the barn to arm an insurrection, but the contents of those boxes are not items to give a new farmholder."
"I agree," Duncan said. Before entering the door again after the inspection, Duncan asked, "How do you know the lad's mother?"
"I know a lot of people, Duncan," Elle said with a smile. "Marika is a kitchen servant for Bann Ceorlic. She was recommended by her niece in the Denerim alienage. My established network of informants is one of the main reasons that I prefer to remain independent, for the moment. And, by remaining independent, I do believe I will be better able to help the Grey Wardens."
"You could be a Grey Warden and still maintain your networks, Elle," he said.
Elle sighed and frowned. "Some Fereldens still do not trust the Grey Wardens, Duncan. You know this as well as I do ... or you'd have many more wardens to command. In my role as a noble's second child, people take a while to warm to me, but they usually see the benefit of a relationship with me."
He chuckled and opened the door for Elle to precede him inside, "We shall see how that changes during a Blight, Lady Cousland. You may find being a warden will open more doors than it closes ... but, for now, follow your own advice and get some sleep. I'll be shaking you awake before you know it."
All Elle did was nod and lay down on her bedroll, with Midnight curling up beside her. Her thoughts were racing, but she knew Duncan was right. She must get some sleep. She would soon have an important decision to make. She hoped to be able to consult with Fergus beforehand, but events may force her to decide before Fergus arrived.
And now, she had one more thing to discuss with Loghain and Cailan when they got to Ostagar. First, Rendon Howe and now Ceorlic ... we truly are just a bunch of barbarians, she despaired to herself.
...
AN: On to Lothering and Ostagar next time! ;)
Invisible Pretender … thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate hearing from you. :) Don't forget! Elle has a "twisted sense of attraction" … only she knows what she likes at any point in time. Silver foxes are leading right now. Who knows how long that will last? Of course, it's only a fun game to play at the moment. Maybe she holds out hope that Nathaniel will come to his senses … or, maybe she hopes to never see him again? ;)
